Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Test Drive of the new Plus Four

Thank you very much for that comprehensive write up Andy, very good news about the seats and brakes as they were beginning to sound like a bit of a stumbling block.

I'm really looking forward to a test drive of the automatic when things quieten down a bit as I really think this model is the way ahead for us Plus 8 boys, I have my configurator work done.

What were your daughters overall impressions.

Andy,

Many thanks. I have only driven the Auto as I have a disability and was very impressed. I know John v6 has driven both and liked the auto the best. The auto is very smooth as well as feeling well connected, moving to manual mode made very quick changes and great fun.

The pops and bangs were present particularly in sports plus and it is really brings it how how powerful modern 2L Engines are. I agree with the comments on handling and ride...it’s a huge leap from the trad models. The only downside is it didn’t feel old like my GDI which I think is part of the charm. Will it stop me moving onto a new one. No.

Andy, before you buy test the auto. I have always preferred manuals but wow that baby delivers & delivers.
I think your write up is fair. I don't like the seats, the lack of storage & the £40k jump.

Many thanks for posting.

All I need now is PhD level man-maths to convince Mrs F that I can take some cash out of the pensions that we were not planning to touch for the next 10 years.

Many thanks for your very clear and comprehensible report, Andy. Your last sentence would have been my only question. Let me put it this way: Obviously the manual transmission is designed to be very long. Of course this engine has enough torque and power for that. Would shorter gears be better to make shifting more agile and fun, or would the engine be too powerful for that, because it has a lot of torque even at low revs?

I'm very curious if you also drive an automatic version, or do you simply miss in that case the fun of being mechanically involved? If you should test the automatic version and write something about it, I would be happy to read it as well.

With my fantasy head on I would buy the auto, it would also have the alloy wheels. Technology has reached the point that an auto version of the same car can easily outperform the manual, even with the best driver (assumed or factual)

I would only buy if I could keep my steel chassis, manual plus 4 and have the aluminium platform, auto plus four as well.

Thanks a lot for the report Handy.
Quite same impression when I test the automatic one and same question : manual or automatic
With the automatic the torque is also different +50Nm and the max power reach at lower rpm : manual gearbox limits, drivability or other reason ? Who knows ?
So, yes I want one stingray grey or Luna grey with tan leather... But....
- automatic or manual, alu or wire wheels...
- the price difference between the "reprise" (sorry I don't know the right wording when the dealer take your previous car back) of my 2016 plus4 and the new PlusFour allow me to keep my actual Plus4 and buy a second hand 718 or a brand new Mustang Ecoboost ....
Allready more than one month turning around in my head and I can't find the response... Dilemma, dilemma
Note that in any case the will be red as hell

Rich ,

She was impressed , she says

"It felt modern with lots of nice touches like air-conditioning, but still in keeping with the Morgan brand (she has done a factory tour so knows all about the handmade ethos etc) . I really liked the black dashboard and centre console (I didn't) The ride was incredibly smooth (she does drive my +8 so she has a datum line) and the acceleration exhilarating as a passenger. Not enough luggage space for me! The seats were very comfortable. Overall I really enjoyed the ride."

On the tech side she couldn't get her phone to Bluetooth synch with the car, as she felt there was something missing in the brief instructions we received from Keith. She is also a big fan of automatics having just bought a new VW T-Roc with a 7 speed DSG box, so she is as keen as I am to try one.

I think it is kind of nice that a young person with a very different perspective on motoring felt so positively towards the car. Morgans market seems to be getting older. A acquaintance of mine in the HRG (remember those?) club was once asked what the average age of a club member was , and he replied "dead" .

If you accept that first gear is about right then shortening the other gears on manual version would almost certainly provide more fun by encouraging usage. An 80 mph second gear and a sixth gear of 45mph/1000 rpm just don't make sense though, unless the latter is needed to achieve approval economy. It's almost as though MMC have engineered the demanded manual version with reduced torque and high gearing, to encourage auto sales.

Further thoughts are that as with the 3.7 Roadster, MMC were obliged to accept what gearbox and associated ratio's were available to match engine and in so doing accept whatever gearing the individual ratio's provided. In the case of the 3.7 and some earlier Roadster variants I believe, you are left with a ridiculously low first gear, making it almost redundant.

Andy,

Thank you very much for your daughters views on the car they are very important as she is right in the sector the company is aiming to attract I imagine, relating to your HRG comment it's vital for them to do so too.
That is positive on the ride side of things as that's the thing I'm rather hoping will win my good lady over as she finds the Plus 8 too raw.
Her comment on the seating is good too as that is a vital area for my wife.

Possibly there will never be enough luggage space for the ladies so fair comment.

Do report back please if you get a shot in the automatic they do sound the sweet spot going by previous impressions on TM which of course are coherent and valued unlike the press for me.

Please thank your daughter for her impressions.

I'm delighted that the new car has impressed, MMC should be pleased, I think keeping the trad lines on an aero chassis is a very clever bit of design.